The Story:Ecclesiastes 8 is Solomon’s “in your face” chapter, beginning with verse 1. This verse sounds almost like a cry of frustration: “Are you listening, son? When are you going to wise up?” Solomon’s cry neatly summarizes his argument to this point. Wisdom is the thing; get wisdom. Only the wise man – the man who lives “under the heavens” – can sort out the confusion, dilemmas, and challenges of life. Money won’t help you when problems of state are staring you in the face. Fun times will be of no avail when the enemy is at the gates. The wise man’s face shines with confidence, hope, and peace, while the fool’s face shows etched on it the ravages of anxiety, uncertainty, and a misspent youth. The plea to Rehoboam is to take the long view, think about more than himself, strive to be wise rather than a fool.

The Structure:This little poetic intrusion follows a powerful pattern of Hebrew parallelism: say something; say it again and extend it; say it one more time and punctuate it with a bit of irony. Just when it looks like the passage is mounting to soar, it crashes into the stiff, stern face of the fool. This is “aha” writing at its best. It’s not hard to imagine Rehoboam becoming a little irritated with his father’s urgency, but that doesn’t matter. Solomon wanted to make his point boldly and clearly. He needed to get in his son’s face at least once during these exchanges. In our day many pastors and evangelists are reluctant to confront the lost or to urge them with passion to forsake their folly and come to Christ, the very Wisdom of God. But people who are trapped in the Lie of unbelief sometimes need a little more of a challenge.

Just because we confront people boldly and clearly doesn’t mean we don’t do it in love. Is there anyone in your life like Rehoboam? Have you thought about a loving confrontation?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “In Your Face: Ecclesiastes 8,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.